LAWRENCEBURG  An Aurora man who had been charged with domestic violence and residential entry jumped to his death Tuesday inside the Dearborn County Courthouse.

The Dearborn County Sheriff's Office said Lawrence Buchina, 29, jumped from the third floor to the first floor inside the rotunda area of the courthouse at 10 a.m.

Mr. Buchina was handcuffed, chained and shackled.

Mr. Buchina was taken by a Lawrenceburg emergency medical services unit to Dearborn County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11 a.m. He suffered a massive head injury, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office and Indiana State Police are investigating the death, but Sgt. Bill Ullrich of the sheriff's office said it did not appear Mr. Buchina was trying to escape.

Sgt. Ullrich said the drop from the third to first floor is about 30 feet, and Mr. Buchina landed headfirst.

He wasn't two or three steps outside the courtroom when he jumped, said Sgt. Ullrich. There was no hesitation.

Mr. Buchina had been charged with residential entry, meaning he forced his way into a residence, a felony, and with domestic violence against an ex-girlfriend. The domestic violence charge was a misde meanor.

Mr. Buchina had been arrested on the charges Monday. He had been taken to the courthouse for a hearing with four other prisoners, who were not shackled together.

Had Mr. Buchina been convicted of the charges against him, he could have served six months to three years in prison.